The Week of September 8

Congress returns this week for an - optimistically speaking - brief stint before hitting campaign season full force.

This week's legislative line-up is still taking form, but sure to be at the top of the list are:

Energy: Lawmakers may continue July's political stalemating over energy fixes, when Dems and the GOP butted heads over off-shore-drilling, but forces for compromise - less likely - could push through a bipartisan bill this month. The House could bring an energy bill to the floor this week matching an off-shore drilling measure - that would allow coastal drilling in Virginia, North & South Carolina and Georgia - with a host of green measures including tax breaks and funding for alternative energy and a mandate that renewable energy make up a percentage of electricity production. The cost of the bill would be picked up by taxes on the oil industry.

Defense: Normally a pro-forma action, passage of the yearly Defense Authorization bill (S 3001) got sidetracked by energy politicking in July. Senators hope to make swift work of it this week.

A second stimulus: With a still flagging economy, Congress plans a second - $50 billion - cash injection to stoke the economy, but instead of checks to taxpayers this time the boost will come in the form of infrastructure investments, cash to help states with Medicaid costs, home heating help and a possible expansion of food stamp coverage.

09's budget: In theory, Congress is supposed to finish a budget by October 1, when fiscal year '09 starts. In practice, Dems have known all year they'd be punting the passage of a final budget to January, when they hope to have a more sympatico president. In the meantime, Congress will have to pass a "continuing resolution" to keep the government funded using 08's budget numbers.